Sewing machine



Fb. 9, 1932., w, MYERS 1,844,902

SEWING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I Hillier ers wwweb R J w. MYERS SEWING MACHINE Feb. 9, 1932.

, Filed April 25, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwumto'z Walzer ziiyers a? 7 W64 W. MYERS SEWING MACHINE Feb. 9, 1932.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 1930 gwuentoa halfer 19ers Feb. 9, 1932. n w, MYERS 1,844,902

" SEWING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 109 Wa ZL er zgyers Wilma 777 1 Patented F ch. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER MYERS, F BRIDGEIPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE SINGER MANUFAC:

TUBING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEWING MACHINE Application filed April 25,

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines which are more particularly adapted for tufting fabrics by applying loops of thread, yarn and the like to a basefabric to project from one face of said fabric, as for instance in the production of embroid ery work and in the filling of pile rugs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tufting machine capable of ei'ficient operation at high speed'in the production of pile eflects in which the pile loops or severed loop-limbs are of the desired uni form length, whereby the appearance of the product is enhanced. f

Another object of the'invention-is to provide a tufting machine capable of producing successive rows of tuftingin a base-fabric, without crushing or distorting the tufting loops in the formation of said tufting.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in of a sewing machine consti tuting a preferred embodiment of the present I improvement. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

front elevation,

" of the machine. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the relative operative positions of the thread-cutting disk and the slabbed needle. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the feeding foot through the axis of the threadcutting disk secured to said foot. Fig. 5 is F a perspective view of the throat-plate. Fig.

=6 is a front end elevation partly in section, of the sewing machine. Fig. 7 is a top plan view, and Fig. is a rear side elevation, both partly in section, of the free end portion of the machine bracket-arm. Fig. 9 represents perspective views of the presser-foot and feeding foot of the machine. Fig. 10 represent-s in top plan view, partly in section, the loop-guiding blade, presser-foot, feeding foot and a fragment of work. Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail views, in side elevation, of the loop-forming and Work feeding elements, the several views consecutively illustrating 1930. Serial No. 447,174.

eration of carrying a loop of thread through a base-fabric and into cutting position. Figs. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate the looper and threaddetaining member, in top plan view, with the thread occupying the positions corresponding with the positions illustratedin Figs. 11, 12 and 13, respectively. Fig. 17 is a perspective view, partly in section,...of-- the threadcarrying looper and of the thread-engaging end of the thread-detaining member. Fig. 18 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the lower end of'the needle-bar and of the needle carried thereby.

The sewing machine, constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown in the drawings as having a frame comprising a bed-plate 1 of which the upper surface serves as a horizontally disposed work-support. Rising from the bed-plate 1 is a tubu lar standard 2 of a bracket-arm 3, terminating in a head 4 and overhanging the worksupport.

Rotatably journaled in the bracket-arm 3 is a horizontally disposed, main actuating shaft 5, carrying at one end a driving pulley 6 and at its opposite end a crank-disk 7. The crank-disk 7 has the usual link connection 8 with a vertically disposed needle-bar 9,

wherebyv said needle-bar 9 is reciprocated endwise upon rotation of the shaftt. The needle-bar 9 is 'journaled for reciprocation in; apertured bearing-lugs, as 10 and 11 of 3. vibrato'ry frame 12 pivotally supported atj'i ts upper end upon a fulcrum-pin 13 secured'by a set-screw li in an aperture in the head 4, the fulcrum-pin 13 being substantially par allel with the shaft 5 whereby the frame 12 is capable of vibratory movements in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the shaft 5. I

Secured to the lower end of the-needle bar 9 is a hookor open-eye needle 15 which needle point throughout the greater part of the needle-length to provide a flat surface 16, substantially diametrical of the needle and terminating in a cylindrical butt end 17 of the needle. The cylindrical butt end 17 of themeedle is inserted in a socket formed in is cut away or slabbed at one side from the relationship with the shaft 5.

1 forked arm 22 straddling an adjustable eccentric 23 secured upon the main-shaft 5, said eccentric actuating the rock-shaft 21 in timed relation with the endwise reciprocations of the needle so that lateral, workfeeding movements are imparted to the needle, i. e., lateral and return movements in the work-penetrating and work-clearing positions, respectively, of the needle.

The work-feeding movements of the needle occur in unison with those of a feeding foot 24 having a vertically-apertured shank 25 suitably secured upon the lower end of a feed-bar 26. The feed-bar 26 is journaled for endwise reciprocation in a vertically apertured bearing-boss 27 of the vibratory frame 12 and its upper end is connected by a link 28 with an arm 29 of a bell-crank lever 29, 30. The other arm 30 of the bellcrank lever is connected by a link 31 to a crank-arm 32 upon one end of a horizontally disposed rock-shaft 33 journaled in bear- 5 ing lugs, as 34, at the rear side of the machinebracket-arm. The rock-shaft 33 carries another crank-arm 35 pivotally connected with one end of a pitman 36 of which the opposite end has a strap 37 embracing an eccentric 38 upon the main-shaft 5.

The bel1-crank lever 29, 30 has a hub 39 pivotally supported upon a fulcrum-pin 4O projecting laterally from an arm 41 of a collar 42 suitably clamped upon a vertically disposed presser-bar 43, the lever 29, 30 being held upon its fulcrum-pin by means of a screw 44 threaded into the end of said pin. The presser-bar 43 is capable of endwise reciprocatory .movements in bearings provided in the head 4 and in the slotted lower end of said presser-bar is secured the shank 45 of a presser-foot 46 disposed adjacent the feeding foot 24 on the side thereof remote from the needle 15. The presser-bar is depressed by a spring 47 disposed at the rear side of the machine bracket-arm and bearing upon a lug 48 projecting from a collar 49 secured upon the presser-bar. The presser-bar collar 42 has divergent arms 50 and 51 of which the arm 50 is adapted to be engaged by the usual lifter-lever 52 fulcrumed upon the bracket-arm 3, and the arm 51 by the usual hand operated lever 53,

, whereby the resser-bar and the feed-bar may be together raised against the action of the spring 47. This construction of the topfeed and-presser-mechanism will be understood from the foregoing description as being of the wellknown, alternating-presser type in which the resser-foot and feedingfootreciprocally engage the work, the presser-foot being lifted clear of the work during the work-advancing movements of the feeding-foot and clamping the work upon the work-support during the return movements of said feedingfoot.

Cooperating with the needle below the work-support and to position a thread for seizure by the needle-hook, is a rotary threadcarrying looper 54 performing two rotations for each complete endwise reciprocation of the needle. The looper 54 is carried by the upper end of a vertically disposed loopershaft 55 journaled for rotation in vertically spaced bearings-bosses, as 56, provided in a looper-bracket 57. This, bracket is secured upon a lug 58, depending from the bed-plate 1, by means of a screw 59 passing through an elongated aperture 60 in said bracket, whereby the bracket may be adjusted longitudinally of the bed-plate 1. To provide an additional support for said bracket, it is formed with an apertured, split boss 61 which is clamped. by a screw 62 upon a bushing 63 suitably secured in a horizontally apertured lug 64 depending from the bed-plate 1, this additional securing means for the looper bracket lending itself to ready adjustment of the bracket.

Carried by the looper-shaft 55 is a spiral gear 65 in mesh with a similar gear 66 secured upon a looper actuating shaft 67 which is parallel with the main shaft 5 and is journaled in the bushing 63 as well as in suitable bearings provided in lugs, as 68 and 69, depending from the bed-plate-l. The gear 66 is of twice the size of the gear. 65, so that the looper-shaft rotates twice for each rotation of its actuating shaft. At its rearward end,

the shaft 67 carries a peripherally grooved pulley 70 connected by a belt 71 with a similar pulley 72 upon the main-shaft 5, whereby the shafts 5 and 67 rotate synchronously.

The looper 54 has a base 7 3 from which rises a cylindrical side wall 74 terminating opposite to the base in an inwardly directed flange 75 defining a central, needle-clearance opening 76 concentric with the axis of the looperx Theflange 7 5 is provided with a thread-delivery eye or aperture 77 which is inclined downwardly toward the looper axis, the looper-shaft 55 having a longitudinal bore 78 through which the tufting thread or yarn may be led from a suitably located supply to and through the delivery aperture 77 which terminates in the flat upper face of the looper. Seated upon a shouldered recess in the definmg wall of the needle-clearance opening 76 of the looper is a flanged insert-sleeve 79. the ma or portion of the upper end of which is viding for adjustment of the position of the recess 80 with respectto the thread-delivery aperture 77 by simply turning the insertsleeve in its seat in the looper.

In its work-penetrating movement, the needle 15 descends below the work-support through a needle-aperture 82 provided in a throat-plate 83 suitably secured upon the bedplate 1, the throat-plate needle-aperture 82 being," of course, elongated in the direction of the work-feeding movement of the needle. It is preferred to maintain the thread leading from the throat-plate needle-aperture to the thread-delivery eye of the looper in close contact with the upper face of the looper prior to seizure of the thread by the needle, because in this position the thread is substantially normal to the needle and is therefore more favorably disposed for seizure by the needle without reaving through the needle-hook. To attain this end, the throat-plate 83 has a thickened portion 84 overlying and extending into close proximity to the upper face of the looper, whereby the thread is closely confined between the throat-plate and the looper.

The needle 15 descends eccentrically into the opening afforded by the insert-sleeve 79 of the looper until the needle-hook is below the upper surface of the looper and travels laterally across the center of said opening during the work-advancing movement of said needle. As the needle rises, its hook 19 seizes the thread whipped about the needle by the looper and carries it through the work in the form of a loop which projects from the upper face of the work in a direction substantially normal thereto. In order to obviate the shortening of this loop, or a limb thereof in the event that the loop has been cut open, during the formation of the next succeeding loop by the needle, the present machine preferably includes means for creating slack in that portion of thethread between the needle-path and the work, the amount of slack thread created bein preferably substantially equal to the lengt of the corresponding limb of the succeeding loop drawn'through the work by the needle.

The slack-thread creating device consists of a vibratory thread-detaining member in the form of a finger 85 having at its free end a depending nub 86 ositioned directly'above the orbit of travel 0 the looper thread-clearance recess and inside of the orbit of travel of the looper thread-delivery eye 77. The finger-nub 86 vibrates toward and from the upper face of the looper in a direction substantially normal to said face and, to this end, the finger is carried "by a bent-arm 87 secured by screws, as 88, upon a vibratory frame 89. This frame 89 is pivotally-supported, by a fulcrum-bolt 90, between the spaced arms, as 91, of a short bracket-shaft 92 adjustably fixed by a set-screw 93 in a horizontally apertured bearing-lug 94 de- I pending from the bed-plate 1. Obviously, this supporting means for the frame 89 provides for adjusting the position of the fingernub 86 in transverse directions, i. e., an adchange the length of the thread-loop detained, or an adjustment of the supporting arms 91 about the axis of the'bracketshaft 92 so as to reposition the finger 85 in a direction crosswise thereof, to thereby retime the path of vibratory movement of the finger nub 86'with respect to the threadwhipping movements of the thread-delivery eye 77 of the looper.

.The finger-supporting frame 89 is vibrated by an eccentric 95 upon the looper-actuating shaft 67 said eccentric being straddled by a fork 96 which is secured upon the frame 89 by a, screw 97 passing through a vertically elongated slot 98 formed in a ledge 99 dependmg from the frame 89. The described'securing means for the fork 96 obviously provides for adjusting the finger-nub 86 vertically, more particularly to accommodate difierent thicknesses of thread or yarn which it may be desired to employ. In order to insure that the detained thread-loop is stripped from the finger-nub 86 during the threadreleasing movement of the finger" 85, the thickened portion 84 of the throat-plate 83 is provided with a recess 100 entered by-the nger in close proximity to the side-walls of said recess. The finger 85 enters this recess 100 a sufficient distance so that the fingernub 86 clears the thread in the idle rotation of the looper.

When it is desired to cut open the threadloops carried through the work by the needle, 1t 1s preferred to employ a thread-cutting device constructed on the general principle of that forming the subject of my pending patent application, Serial N 0. 402,377, filed Oct. 25, 1929. In the present instance, however, the thread-cutting disk 101 is secured upon the feeding-foot 24 so as to travel laterally in un1son with the needle and thereby maintain 1ts thread-cutting position with respect thereto, regardless of the length of feed. To this end, the feeding-foot 24 is provided on the needle side thereof with a flattened face 102 against which the cutting-disk 101 is held by a shouldered bolt 103 passing through an aperture in the disk and ad ustably positioned in a vertically elongated slot 104 provided in the feeding-foot 24.. The bolt 103 is clamped by a nut 105 with just suflicient pres sure to cause a. friction-washer 106 interposed justment lengthwiseof the bracket-shaft so l-Il between the head of the bolt and the cutting disk to restrain the cutting disk against rotation under normal conditions, but to permit a slight rotation of the disk under abnormal conditions whereby a fresh portion of the cutting edge of the disk is automatically presented in the path of the thread-loops carried by the needle. It is to be understood that, as in my prior construction, the flat side 16 of the need1e15 is disposed in contact with the cutting disk at one side of the center of said disk. For this purpose and also to serve as a supporting guide for the needle, the fiat face 102 of the feeding-foot is provided with a vertically disposed groove 107 slidingly receiving the rounded side of the needle and of suflicient depth whereby the fiat face 16 of the needle is substantially flush with the side face 102 of the feeding-foot. Preferably, the feeding-foot 2 1is provided with a vertically disposed, thread-clearance slot 108 extending from the work-engaging face of said foot to a point slightly above the position wherein the thread-loops are cut open, said slot 108 intersecting the needle-groove 107 in the foot and affording clearance for the limb of the thread-loop between the needle and the feeding foot. Additional clearance for this limb of the thread-loop is provided by a threadgroove 109 in the needle-point.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the feeding-foot 24 is cut away on the needle side thereof and rearwardly of the needle so as to engage the Work entirely at one side of the cut thread-loops,

thereby obviating crushing of the pile threads. In addition, as the Presser-foot 46 engages the work entirely at the side of the feeding foot remote from the needle, tl1e pile threads formed the needle are free to be advanced with the work in their upstanding.

condition and without any distortion or crushing of said threads. Forwardly of the needle, the feeding-foot 24 extends across the line of the loops being formed to provide a loop-guiding surface 110 which guards the pile threads of the previously formed and substantially parallel row of cut loops from drooping into the needle-path. 51

To further insure that the pile-threads of the previously formed row are prevented 'from passing under the feeding-foot, there is provided a pile-thread pick-up guide comprising an elongated guide-blade 111 disposed in the general direction of the line of the loops being formed and extending edgewise toward the work-support so as to barely clear the upperface of the base-fabric. As will be particularly observed from Fig. 10 of the drawings, the guide-blade is progressively bent into upright position. beginning at its forward end in a plane inclined to the worksupport and terminating in substantially the vertical plane of the presser-foot guide surface 110. Furthermore the lower edge of said blade, at the forward end thereof, is disposed at a slight inclination to the line of the loops to be picked up, so as to gradually approach a line closely adjacent to the line of the loops.

Rising from the guide-blade 111 is the shank 112 thereof which is secured by screws, as 113, for vertical adjustment upon an arm 114 pivotally supported by a stud-screw 115 upon an ear 116 of a bracket 117 secured by screws, as 118, upon the machine head 4. Preferably a friction washer 119 is included in the pivotal mounting of the arm 114, whereby to hold the pick-up guide in any position into which it may be swung about its pivotal support. The swinging movement of the guide into operative position is preferably limited by a screw 120 adj ustably threaded into the machine head 4 so as to be engaged by the arm 114.

It is believed that the operation of the machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing description. A thread or yarn A is led from a suitable supply through the looper-shaft bore and'delivery-eye 77, whereupon the main-shaft is turned to cause the needle 15 to'seize, the thread and carry it through the throat-plate needle-aperture 82. A base-fabric B is then placed upon the worksupport under the presser-foot, and feedingfoot, whereupon the operation of the machine may be commenced with the guide-blade 111 preferably thrown upwardly into inoperative position. The descending needle 15 penetrates the base-fabric B and enters the central opening of the looper 54, eccentrically of said opening, whereupon a lateral movement is imparted to the needle in unison with the work-advancing movement of the feedingfoot 24. The needle completes its descent during the lateral movement thereof, the needle-hook 19 being then disposed below the upper face of the looper 54. Meanwhile the thread-detaining finger 85 moves downwardly until the finger-nub 86 barely clears the upper edge of the insert-sleeve 7 9 so that the thread A is carried about said nub 86 by the thread-eye 77 of the looper, thereby forming a bight in the portion of the thread directly adjacent to the throat-plate needle-aperture. When the needle commences to rise, the looper thread-delivery eye 77 has carried the thread in a substantially horizontal direction from the finger-nub 86 across and against the needle on the hook side thereof, whereupon the thread is seized by the needle-hook 19 as shown in Figs. 11 and'14 of the drawings. Directly thereafter, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15 of thedrawings, the detaining-finger 85 rises to release the thread-bight which has been detained thereby and at the same time the thread-clearance recess 80 of the looper comes into vertical alinement with the detaining finger nub 86, whereupon the detained v released to provide the necessary slack thread in the limb of the thread-loop extending from the needle to the work to prevent placing any substantial strain upon said thread-limb by the loop-forming movement of the needle. The release of the thread-loop from the finger-nub 86 is insured by the thread-stripping action of the side-walls of the throatplate recess 100 entered by the finger 85.

As the needle approaches the upper end of its rise, it carries the loop of thread held by the needle-hook against the edge of the cutting-disk 101, whereupon the thread-loop is cut open substantially in the middle of its bight so that the severed loop-limbs A form pile threads of practically equal lengths.

After a row of pile-threads has been formed, another row parallel thereto may be formed by first swinging the guide-blade 111 into its operative position to insure that drooping pile threads of the previously formed row are deflected out of the paths of movement of the feeding foot and needle. As each row of pile threads formed is advanced from the loop-forming point without any distortion or crushing of the loops, as hereinbefore described, the pile threads do not present the matted appearance very common in the .product of machines of prior construct-ion of this eneraltype.

Having thus set orth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. A sewing machine having a hook-needle, means for imparting work-penetrating movements to said needle, a rotary threadcarrying looper adapted to place a thread in the path of the needle-hook whereby loops of said thread are carried through the work by the needle, means for rotating said looper a plurality of times for each needle reciprocation, and means for imparting work-teeding movements to said needle.

2. A sewingmachine having a hook-needle, means for imparting work-penetrating movements to said needle, a rotary thread-carrying looper cooperating with the needle to lay a thread in the needle-hook whereby loops of said thread are carried through the work by the needle, means for imparting a plurality of rotations to said looper for each needle reciprocation, and met 11$ for cutting open the thread-loops anchored in'the work.

3. A sewing machine having a hood-needle,

means for imparting work-penetrating and Work-feeding movements to said needle,

means for laying a thread in the hook of the needle whereby loops of said thread are carried through the work by the needle, and means for cuttingopen said thread loops.

4. A sewing machine having a hook-needle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric for projection from one face of said fabric, means for imparting endwise-reciprocatory movements to said needle, a thread-carrying looper for placing a thread .in the path of the needle for seizure by the needle-hook, means for cutting open the formed thread-loops, a thread-detaining member, and means for actuating said thread-detaining member in timed relation with respect to the needle reciprocations to prevent shortening of a limb of the previously formed and cut thread-loop during the formation of the next succeeding loop by the needle. g v

5. A sewing machine having a hook-needle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric for projection from one face of said fabric, means for imparting endwise-reciprocatory movements to said needle, a rotary thread-carrying looper adapted to place a thread in the path of the needle for seizure by the needle-hook, means for rotating said looper a plurality of times for each needle reciprocation, a reciprocatory thread-detaining member, and means for reciprocating said member once only for each needle reciprocation to engage the thread and thereby prevent shortening of a. previously formed loop during the formation of the next succeeding loop by the needle.

6. A sewing machine having a hook-needle, means for imparting work-penetrating movements to said needle, a thread-carrying looper for placing a thread in the needlehook whereby loops of the thread are carried through the work by said needle, means for cutting open the formed thread loops, and means for creating a slack in the thread between the looper and the work substantially equal to the length of one limb of a loop preparatory to the formation of the next succeeding loop.

7. A sewing machine having a hook-needle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric for projection from one face of said fabric, a thread-carryinglooper for whipping a thread about the needle while in the work for seizure by the needle-hook, means for imparting threadpositioning movements to saidvlooper, means for cutting open the formed thread-loops, a.

thread-detaining member, and means for actuating said member in timed relation with respect to the needle-reciproc'ations to intermittently form a bight in the thread leading fromthe looper to the work and to release said bight to provide sufiicient slack to prevent the previously cut loop-limb from being pulled through the base-fabric during the formation of the succeeding loop.

8. A sewing machine having a hook-needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a. threadcarrying looper, 'means for actuating said looper to whip the thread about the needle for seizure by the needle-hook, a threaddetaining member adapted to intermittently detain and thereby form a bight in the thread leading from the looper to the base-fabric, means for imparting thread-engaging and releasing movements to said member, and means additional to the thread disengaging movement of said member for substantiall instantaneously releasing the detained t read-bight.

9. A sewing machine having a hook-needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a thread carrying looper provided with a thread-delivery aperture and a thread-releasing recess, means for actuating said looper to position the thread delivered thereby in the path of the needle-hook, whereby loops of said thread are carried through a base-fabric penetrated by said needle, a thread-detaining member movable toward and from the looper in a path intersecting the path of movement of the thread-releasing recess of the looper, and means for actuating said member to intermittently en age the thread delivered by the looper an detain a bight of said thread until released through said looper recess.

10. A sewing machine having a hookneedle, means for reciprocating said needle, a rotary thread-carrying looper provided with a thread-delivery aperture and a thread releasing recess, means permitting adjustment of the relative positions of said aperture and recess, means for rotating said looper to position the thread delivered thereby in the path of the needle-hook, whereby loops of said thread are carried through a base-- fabric penetrated by said needle, a threaddetaining member movable toward and from the looper in a path intersecting the path of movement of the thread-releasing recess of the looper, and means for actuating said member to intermittently engage the thread delivered by the looper and detain a bight of said thread until released through said looper recess.

11. A sewing machine having a hook- -needle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through va base-fabric, means for reciprocating said needle, a thread carrying looper adapted to whip the thread into the path of the needle-hook, means for actuating said looper, a reciprocatory member adapted to intermittently engage the thread delivered by the looper and detain a bight of said thread to provide slack thread for the succeeding loop formed, means for actuating said member, and means for adjustabl determining the length of the threadbig t detained by said member.

12. A sewing machine having a hookneedle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric, means for reciprocating sa1d needle, a thread-carry,-

ing loo er adapted to whip the thread into the pat of the needle-hook, means for actuating said looper, a reciprocatory member cooperating wit the looper in the formation of a bight in the thread to provide slack thread for the succeeding loop formed, means for reciprocating said member to engage and re thread-loops through a base-fabric, means for reciprocating said needle, a thread-carrying looper adapted to place the thread carried thereby in the path of the needle-hook, means for actuating said looper, a reciprocatory member cooperating with the looper in the formation of a bight in the thread toprovide slack thread for the succeeding loop formed, means for reciprocating said member to engage and release the thread, and means for adjustably determining the time of release of the thread-bight by said member.

14. A sewing machine having a hookneedle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric, means for reciprocating said needle, a thread-carrying looper having a thread-delivery eye rotatable about the needle-path, means for rotating said looper, a thread-detaining member reciprocable toward and from a plane con taining the orbit of travel of the looper thread-delivery eye, said member having a path of movement confined to one side of said plane and between the needle-path and said orbit, and means for reciprocating said member to intermittentlyengage and release the thread delivered by the looper to form a bight in said thread during each needle-reciprocation.

15. A sewing machine having a hookneedle adapted to carry a succession of thread-loops through a base-fabric, means for reciprocating said needle, a thread-carrying looper having a thread-delivery eye rotatable about the needle-path, means for rotating said looper, a thread-detaining member reciprocable toward and from a plane containing the orbit of travel of the looper thread-delivery eye, means for reciprocating said member to engage and release the thread between the looper-axis and the thread-delivery eye to thereby create a slack-forming bight in said thread during each needlereciprocation, and means for adjustably determining the proximity of approach of said member to the plane of said orbit.

16. A sewing machine having a work-support including a throat-plate provided with a needle-aperture, a hook-needle reciprocable to carry loops of thread upwardly through said needle-aperture, means for reciprocating said needle, a looper disposed below said throat-plate having a thread-delivery eye rotatable in an orbit encompassing the needlepath of reciprocation, means for rotating said looper, a thread-detaining member reciprocable toward the plane of said orbit to engage the thread between said looper demembe livery-eye and the throat-plate needle-aperture and reciprocable in a direction toward the throat-plate to release said thread, and means for actuating said thread-detaining 17. A sewing machine having a Work-support including a throat-plate provided with a needle-aperture and. a clearance-recess in the underside thereof, a hook-needle reciprocable to carry loops of thread upwardly through said needle-aperture, means for reciprocating said needle, a looper disposed below said throat-plate having a thread-delivery eye rotatable in an orbit encompassing the needle-path of reciprocation, means for imparting a plurality of rotations to said looper for each complete needle-reciprocation, a thread-detaining member reciprocable toward theplane of said orbit to engage the thread delivered by the looper and in a direction toward said throat-plate to release said thread, and means for imparting one complete reciprocation only to said member for each complete needle-reciprocation, said member entering the throat-plate recess-in its thread-releasing movement;

18. A sewing machine having a Work-support provided with a needle-aperture, a hooklooper below the throat-plate having a thread-delivery eye rotatable in an orbit encompassing and defining a plane substantially normal to the needle-path of reciprocation, a thread-detaining member actuable in a direction; to engage said thread at a point spaced from the axis of rotation of the looper and to hold the thread between said member and the looper delivery-eye in close proximity to said orbit, whereby thethread when seized by the needle is substantially normal to the needle-path of reciprocation, and means for actuating said thread-detaining member. 7 x

19. A sewing machine having a work-support provided with a needle-aperture, a hookneedle reciprocable to carryloops of thread upwardly through said needle-aperture,

means for reciprocating said needle, a looper:

below the. work-support having a threaddelivery eye adapted to carry a thread into thepath of the needle-hook, means for actuating said looper, a thread-detaining member actuable to engage and create a bight in the thread delivered by the looper, .a vibratory frame carrying said member, a bracket-shaft a crank-arm carried by the bracket-shaft, a pivotal support forsaid frame upon ahecrank-arm, means for vibrating said frame about its pivotal support, and means for supporting said bracket-shaft in fixed positions adjustable in directions lengthwise of andv about the longitudinal axis of said bracketshaft.

20. A sewing machine having a work-support provided with a needle-aperture, a hookneedle reciprocable to carry loops of thread upwardly through said needle-aperture, means for reciprocating said needle, a looper below the work-support having a thread:

delivery eye adapted to carry a thread into the path of the needle-hook, means for actuating said looper, a thread-detaining member actuable to engage and create a bight in the thread delivered by the looper, a vibratory frame carrying said member, a pivotal support for said frame, and actuating means for vibrating said frame about its pivotal 'reciprocatory work-penetrating and lateralneedie reciprocable to carry loops of thread upwardly through said needleaperture, means for reciprocating said needle, a rotary ly vibratory movements to said needle, and means for cutting open each thread-loop formed by the needle before the succeeding thread-loop is formed.

23. A sewing machine having a needle adapted to carry loops of thread through a base-fabric, means for reciprocating said needle, work-feeding mechanism including a four-motion feeding foot, a presser-foot engaging the work alternately with the feeding foot, and a thread-cutter carried by the feeding foot in position to cut open the needle-thread loops successively as said loops are formed by the needle.

24. A sewing machine having a needle adapted to carry loops of thread through a base-fabric, means for imparting endwise reciprocatory work-penetrating and laterally vibrating wor -feeding movements to said needle, afour-motion feed-member having work-feeding movements in unison'with the lateral movements of. the needle, and a thread-cutter carriedv by said feed-member in position to cut open the thread-loops car- Eried by the needle through said base-fabric.

25. A sewing machine having a needle adapted to carry loops of thread through a base-fabric,- means for imparting endwise reciprocatory and laterally vibratory movements to said needle, a thread-cutter travelling laterally in unison with the lateral movements of said needle, and means for supporting said thread-cutter in position to succes sively cut open the thread-loops formed by the needle.

through a base-fabric upon said work-support to project said loops from the upper face of said base-fabric in a. direction substantially normal thereto, and work-advancing mechanism including a feeding member opposed to said work-support in position to engage the upper face of the base-fabric at one side only of the formed thread-loops whereby to prevent distortion of said loops by said feeding member.

27. A sewing machine having a work-support, a needle adapted to carry thread-loops through a base-fabric upon said work-support to project said loops from the upper face of said base-fabric in a direction substantially normal thereto, and work-advancing mechanism including a feeding-foot and a Presser-foot opposed to said work-support in positions to reciprocally engage the upper face of said base-fabric at one side only of the formed thread-loops, whereby to prevent distortion of said loops by said work-advancing mechanism.

28. A sewing machine having a work-support, a needle adapted to carry thread-loops through a base-fabric upon said work-support to project said loops from the upper face of said base-fabric in a direction substantially normal thereto,and work-advancing mechanismincluding a feeding foot opposed to said work-support in position to engage the upper face of the base-fabric at one side only of the formed thread-loops, said feeding foot in front of the needle eX- tending across the line of the loops being ,formed and terminating in a guiding face for a previously formed line of thread-loops.

29. A sewing machine having a work-support, a needle adapted to carry thread-1oops through a base-fabric upon said worl support to project said loops from the upper face of said base-fabric in a direction substantially normal thereto, means for advancing the base-fabric past the needle path, and a thread-loop guard in advance of said needle having a loop-guiding surface progressively bent from-a position at its forward end inclined to the work-support to terminate substantially normal to said work-support, whereby drooping thread-loops'of a previously formed row are diverted out of the needle path in the formation of a succeeding row of thread-loops.

30. A sewing machine having a horizontally disposed Work-support, a needle'adapt- 'ed to carry thread-loops through a basefabric upon said work-support to project said loops from the upper face of said basefabric in a direction substantially normal thereto, means for advancing the base-fabric past the needle path including a work-engaging member having a vertically disposed loop-guiding surface adjacent the line of the loops being formed, and a threadloop guard in advance of said needle having avloopguiding surface progressively bent from a position inclined to the work-support to terminate substantially in the plane of the loop-guiding surface of the work-engaging feed-member, whereby drooping threadloops of a previously formed row are diverted out of the needle path in the formation of a succeeding row of thread-loops.

311 A sewing machine having a work-support, a needle adapted to carry thread-loops through a base-fabric upon said work-support to project said loops from the upper face of said base-fabric in a direction substantially normal thereto, means for advancing the base-fabric past the needle path, a thread-loop guard in advance of the needle comprising a guide-blade elongated in a gen eral direction parallel with the line of loops being formed by the needle and edgewise overhanging the work-support in spaced relation thereto, said guide-blade presenting a loop-guiding surface progressively bent from a position at its forward end inclined to the work-support to terminate substantially normal to said work-support, and a pivotal support for said guide-blade providing for swinging the blade into and out of WALTER MYERS. 

